What is a Computer?
1 Vocabulary
to accept
step
to involve
to feed (fed)
set
to set
set-up
to put
to input
to output
to make
to make up
make-up
to call
to consist
main
main memory
influence
to influence
influential
to execute
executive
to hold (held)
to hold down
current
currently
to attach
attachment
to provide
permanent
to equip
equipment
socket
to connect
connection
handle
to handle
able
to enable
common
to extract
means
by means of
to plug
range
general
generally
a) chose the correct translation:
1) consist
| а) прикреплять | b) состоять | c) извлекать | d) составлять |
2) extract
| а) прикреплять | b) состоять | c) извлекать | d) составлять |
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3) step
| а) шаг | b) набор | c) влияние | d) средство |
4) involve
| а) предоставлять | b) вовлекать | c) устанавливать | d) делать |
5) set
| а) шаг | b) набор | c) влияние | d) средство |
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6) influence
| а) шаг | b) набор | c) влияние | d) средство |
7) attach
| а) прикреплять | b) состоять | c) извлекать | d) составлять |
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8) provide
| а) предоставлять | b) вовлекать | c) устанавливать | d) делать |
9) means
| а) шаг | b) набор | c) влияние | d) средство |
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10) make up
| а) прикреплять | b) состоять | c) извлекать | d) составлять |
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Match the words with their meanings:
| a) main b) execute c) enable d) hold e) equipment f) connect g) common h) call i) range j) currently |
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Match the words with their definitions:
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Make up two-word expressions:
| to accept main storage optical input physical computer to process finished permanent | data devices units product drive system storage memory data devices |
e) Find synonyms:
| a) set up b) hold c) step d) feed e) execute f) via g) currently h) attach i) provide j)main | 1) connect 2) input 3) chief 4) contain 5) by means of 6) give 7) now 8) install 9) perform 10) operation |
2 reading
a) Read the text:
What is a Computer?
Computers are electronic machines which can accept data in a certain form, process the data and give the results of processing in a specified format as information.
Three basic steps are involved in the process: First, data is fed into the computer’s memory. Then, when the program is run, the computer performs a set of instructions and processes the data. Finally, we can see the results (the output) on the screen or in printed form.
Information in the form of data and program is known as software, and the electronic and mechanical parts that make up a computer system are called hardware. A standard computer system consists of three main sections: the Central Processing Unit (CPU), the main memory and the peripherals.
Perhaps the most influential component is the Central Processing Unit. It is to execute program functions and to coordinate the activities of all the other units. In a way, it is the ‘brain’ of the computer. The main memory holds the instructions and data which are currently being processed by the CPU. The peripherals are the physical units attached to the computer. They include storage devices and input/ output devices.
Storage devices (floppy or hard disks) provide a permanent storage of both data and programs. Input devices enable data to go into the computer’s memory. The most common input devices are the mouse and the keyboard. Output devices enable us to extract the finished product from the system. For example, the computer shows the output on the monitor or prints the results onto paper by means of a printer.
On the rear panel of the computer there are several ports into which we can plug a wide range of peripherals – modems, fax machines, optical drives and scanners.
These are the main physical units of a computer system, generally known as the configuration.
b) Use the information in the text to help you match the terms hi the box with the appropriate explanation or definition below:
b) floppy disk; c) output; | d) peripheral devices; e) hardware; f) Central Processing Unit | g) monitor; h) input; i) port. |
The brain of the computer.
Physical parts that make up a computer system.
Programs which can be used on particular computer system.
The information which is presented to the computer.
Results produced by a computer.
Hardware equipment attached to the CPU.
Visual display unit.
Small device used to store information. Same as ‘diskette’.
Any socket or channel in a computer system into which an input/output device may be connected.
c) Complete the sentences with the words from the box:
| software process type hardware output operate |
Computers are electronic machines that … information.
Computers … quickly and accurately in solving problems.
After processing the information, they … the results.
You can … and print any kind of document – letters, memos, or legal documents.
… is a set of devices and … is a set of programs.
3 Summing-up
What do we mean when we say “a computer”?
What parts make up a computer system?
What are the main units of measurement in computer science?
What is hardware?
What is software?
Why is the central processor called “a brain of a computer”?
What do we use to input data?
4 Speaking: Now you can tell what a computer is.
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